Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Many Mayor Ken Freeman announced last week that he will retire from MidSouth Bank on Friday. The bank recently announced its sale to Hancock Whitney Bank, headquartered in Gulfport, MS.
He has worked in banking for 45 years, including stints at Sabine State Bank and Trust Co. and Peoples State Bank.
Ken said he will be a full-time Mayor and house husband and that he is “Looking forward to the next stage of my life.”
According to reports, a Many police officer used a city vehicle to transport his girlfriend to Lake Charles for a conference.
“I personally did not see this, but I am told that is correct,” Mayor Ken Freeman said. “I called the city’s insurance agent and was told we were not covered with a civilian riding in the car. The insurance only covers police officers and prisoners.”
He continued, “If the police officer did in fact transport his girlfriend to Lake Charles, he put the citizens of Many at great risk of law suits should they be involved in an accident.”
The Mayor pointed out Chief of Police Roger Freeman is elected and he makes the decisions of what the patrol cars are used for. He stated, “I do not make decisions or approvals for the police department.”
Mayor Freeman related, “If there were multiple hotel rooms paid to accommodate his girlfriend that would be the decision of your Chief. If city funds were used to feed and entertain her, those expenses would have to be approved by the Chief.”
In closing the Mayor added, “I’m responsible to the citizens of Many to ensure they are protected from liability. I have asked all employees to sign statements that the only people allowed to ride in your vehicles are employees and those who have been arrested, with the understanding that if this continues, they may be subjected to disciplinary action to include termination. You will have to look to your Chief for any disciplinary action of his officer for putting you at risk. You will also have to go look to your Chief for any additional answers.”
Last week Observations wrote about Dr. Ashley Wheat Sipes who is employed at WK Eye Institute in Shreveport and her mother Dr. Margaret Wheat of Natchitoches and her late father Dr. Reginald Wheat.
I received the nicest note from Judy Cathey of Many. She wrote: “Thank you for recognizing Dr. Sipes. Ashley and my daughter Ginger have been best friends for many years. They met at the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts. After two years at that school, they both went to Tulane, where they roomed together and were sorority sisters. That was for four years. Then they lived together in Shreveport four years when Ginger was at LSU Medical School. She’s like another daughter to Conrad and me. She also is my doctor.”
Dr. Cathey practices female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery and gynecology at the Women’s Pelvic Restorative Center, Texas Medical Center, in Houston.
She received a Bachelor of Science in Cell and Molecular Biology from Tulane in New Orleans in 1995, Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University Medical School in Shreveport in 1999 and did her residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Houston in 2003.
Dr. Cathey and her husband Carlos reside with their children near the medical center. When out of the office, Dr. Cathey enjoys running, reading, cooking, gardening and most of all, spending time with her family.
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents wrote 78 citations for alleged dove hunting related violations during the opening weekend of dove season, Sept. 7-8. In Sabine Parish, agents issued seven citations to six subjects for hunting doves over a baited area and aiding and abetting others in hunting doves over a baited area.
The DeSoto Parish School Board signed Sabine native Clay Corley to a four-year contract even though he still has a year on his current contract. The vote was unanimous and extends his contract through July 1, 2023. His present contract expires Dec. 31, 2020. He was hired in May 2018.
With the new contract, Supt. Corley’s salary is increased to $170,340. He will also be eligible for a two per cent increase for each year he receives a satisfactory evaluation.
Since Corley’s employment he has moved from Sabine Parish and built a home in DeSoto Parish.
Inmate Kolby Wayne Quinn of Lake Charles was returned to the Sabine Parish Detention Center, from whence he escaped, on Friday, Sept. 13. It was not his lucky day.
He was charged with simple escape from the detention center and unauthorized use of a Sabine Sheriff’s car.
According to reports, Quinn walked away from a work crew on Monday, Sept. 9, stole a patrol car and headed for Humble, TX.
Reports are he parked the car and went into a business when a Humble patrolman noticed the Sabine patrol car and wondered what it was doing there. He called the Sabine Sheriff’s Office and it was determined that the car was stolen.
Quinn was originally arrested Nov. 17 of last year on charges of criminal trespass, possession of schedule 1 drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
It’s sure to be a Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival for the record books this year and it all happens this weekend! Mark it down and plan to attend in downtown Marthaville on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20 and 21.
Festivities start on Friday evening with their 19th Annual Gospel in the Park. The Friday night Gospel sing was started as a regular part of the festival in 2001, right after 9-11.
This year’s Friday show features Tommy Jenkins, Phillip Strahan, Bethel Congregational Methodist Church, Life Church, Harlee Jeter and her grandpa Kerry Singletary (who has performed at ALL 27 festivals!) and to round out the evening, The Stewart Family & Friends, which includes Willie, Bo, Kelly, Clancey and Debbie Stewart, as well as Marthaville’s own Steve and Mark Birdwell, and Laurie Gentry.
Saturday is jam-packed with lots of activities! The highlights:
8:30 – KIDS AREA OPENS at the T. MIDDLETON COURTYARD
9:20 – GRAND OPENING, HERITAGE BUILDING PARADE STAGE, with Posting of Colors by Cub Scout Pack 20 and introduction of this year’s parade Grand Marshals – all of the past Marthaville Heritage Society Chairpersons
9:45 – MOTOCYCLE/ATV/ 4-WHEELER PARADE
10:00 – 27TH ANNUAL WORLD-FAMOUS GOOD OLE DAYS FESTIVAL PARADE
11:00 – ANTIQUE CAR/TRUCK JUDGING, Baseball Field
11:00 – YOUTH MUSIC SHOW, Heritage Park Stage with the Provencal Cub Scout Pack 20 & the Apostolic Truth Tabernacle Kids Choir
11:15 – INTRODUTION OF 2019 MISS GOOD OLE DAYS QUEEN, her Court and all visiting Queens
11:25 – RANDA AND REX KELSO, Frisco Texas Youth Theatre
11:35 – INTRODUCTION OF JUDGES AND PERFORMANCE GROUPS
12:15 – GOOD OLE DAYS ESSAY WINNERS
12:20 – MARTHAVILLE HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES OF 1949, 1959 & 1969
12:30 – PARADE AND PERFORMANCE AWARDS
12:45 – OPEN MIC FOR ALL POLITICAL CANDIDATES
6:15 – THE 27TH ANNUAL NASHVILLE MUSIC SHOW, featuring Phillip Strahan & Friends, The Willie Stewart Family & Friends Patriotic Show, Miss Sarah Dyess and Special Guest, Recording Artist Josh Walters & Kickin’ Country
The big Saturday night show is sponsored by Kerry Singletary Trucking, LLC.
As this is election season, the parade will be absolutely packed with participants and you don’t want to miss this wonderful spectacle and good time. Make plans to attend both days!
Pollie Brandon, candidate for Sabine Parish Clerk of Court, has been doing some innovative campaigning. Friday night she set up a booth and served jambalaya and King’s Hawaiian rolls at the Many Tigers football game at John W. Curtis Tiger Stadium. On Tuesday, she served a meal and spoke at Pete Abington’s Vultures luncheon. She is shown here Friday night with an enthusiastic future voter.
Speedy recovery wishes to Rev. Ray Spiller who underwent hip replacement surgery Monday. We are glad to report that he is doing well. And he thanks everyone for their prayers and thoughts.
Sabine Police Jury critic Bruce Taylor thought he would have some fun with his good friend, Jury President Ronny Bison who is running for Tax Assessor. He ordered a cap for the head of the Jury. On the front is printed “Mr. President” and on the back is “Clown.”
Bruce wanted it to be a surprise and didn’t want to present it himself, so he asked radio personality Tedd Dumas to present it for him. Tedd refused. He then asked Mr. Observations, who also declined to do it.
Being a man who gets things done in spite of any obstacles, Bruce was out at B. J.’s Grocery talking about it, and a lady who worked there said she would deliver his gift. So when Ronny came in one evening last week, she presented it to him.
Bruce said he just looked at the front and put it under his arm. His wife was with him, according to Bruce, saw the back of the cap, grabbed it from Ronny and went to the truck. Bruce is just a fun-loving guy.
And speaking of Bruce, both he and Derek Campbell of Belmont have called to Observations’ attention the price the Sabine Jury has paid for pick-up trucks. The bill they presented showed one cost $29,558.80 and another $29,980. One was purchased for Road Superintendent Bobby Hughes.
“I don’t see how the Jury can pay that much money for trucks when our roads are in such horrible condition,” Bruce stated. Derek echoed this also.
Saturday, Sept. 21, is the last day to register online to vote in the Oct. 12 primary. Early voting will begin Saturday, Sept. 28, and run through Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Registrar of Voters Office from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily, except for Sunday, when the office is closed.
The overwhelming majority of those who participated in last week’s BDC Radio poll said they would not vote to re-elect their current Sabine Parish Police Juror. A total of 134 people participated. A total of 119 – 88.8 per cent – said they would not vote to re-elect their juror. Voting in favor were 15 – 11.2 per cent.
Starting today, the BDC poll will be on the Governor’s race. To cast your vote, go to bdcradio.com, click on the Facebook icon and cast your vote. Only one vote per device is allowed.
Dale Skinner, Dist. 9 School Board Member, said he had put on the agenda of the Sept. 9 School Board meeting two items concerning the school resource officers. One was “safety for the students in Sabine Parish Schools” and the other “what hours resource officers are needed and why.”
He stated, “When I mentioned resource officers, Pres. Terrell Snelling said it was not on the agenda. As you know, we never get to discuss anything unless Snelling and the Superintendent want it discussed.”
Skinner said, “The School Board is paying Sheriff Ronny Richardson about $221,204.72 for security or resource officers, but this could not be discussed.”
He continued, “Who decided how much each school district would pay? The districts paying are Pleasant Hill, Converse and Many. Florien offered to pay two-thirds of one officer, and they do not have to pay anything. It can’t be percentage because Converse has about $3 million if you combine both accounts, Many has about $1.2 million when you combine everything and Pleasant Hill has about one million. How is this fair?”
Skinner previously asked for an explanation on what happened when the resource officer at SPARKS called for assistance and what happened at Many Elementary concerning the resource officer. “They would not let me discuss this also at the Monday meeting,” he said.
In addition, Skinner has asked Supt. Sara Ebarb for: the name of each resource officer and rank; what academy each attended; how long was the academy training and what was their main focus; and the years of experience at each job they have held. He said she did not respond to his request.
He stated, “I would like to know how trained are our resource officers as far as academics are concerned? What local training has been provided? Who decided what districts would pay and how much each district would pay?
“I know now why the Superintendent has refused to give me the information I requested. I feel the Sheriff and Superintendent don’t want the public to know that some officers are not certified or well-trained. I do not feel our children are safe. I am still waiting for an answer from the Superintendent to the three questions.”
Skinner said that a Level 1 resource officer should have full academy training; Level 2 must have training, but less than level one (can work in a jail); and Level 3 has jailer school training.
I love to hear your thoughts and suggestions for future articles, so give me a call at (318) 332-8653 or send an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. To see recently archived Observations, follow the pages below. To see older ones, visit our Facebook page, where they are listed by date under Photo Albums. To save, send or print this week’s column, click on the appropriate icon below. As always, thanks for reading.
-30-
